The most effective measures to combat currant kidney mites in spring

To get a good harvest of black or red currants, it is recommended to follow a number of agrotechnical rules. One of them is the spring treatment for the kidney mite. The pest lives on the plant all year round, but activates after winter, when warm weather sets in. Kidney mites live in groups, in one kidney sometimes there are up to 8,000 individuals sucking juices. Let's consider in detail what the pest is and what methods of dealing with it are used.

What is this pest

A bud mite is a small, thin insect with a body only 2 mm long. Light beige color, worm-like shape. It is difficult to see ticks with the naked eye: they always hide inside currant buds. Therefore, with the arrival of spring, it is recommended to regularly inspect the shrubs. It is advisable for novice gardeners to study the photos of the pest.

The main sign of damage is a deformed and wilted kidney. It swells and bursts, over time, either dries up completely, or gives sick shoots. Once the mites are done with one kidney, they go in search of another. Pests are transferred by wind, rain, insects, animals, rodents.

A kidney mite is dangerous because the affected shrubs slow down or stop growing altogether, which affects the yield. Outwardly, such a currant looks sick, so even as a hedge, it looks bad.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Spring Kidney Mite Control Measures

The benefits include the ability to conduct prevention. However, the vital activity of the kidney mite depends little on the season, so it is easy to miss the moment when the kidneys will puff and burst. This happens if the tick hibernated on the plant, and became more active with the arrival of spring. Here spring processing not to be dispensed with, the destruction of the pest should take place throughout the year, including summer and autumn agrotechnical measures.

Attention! Sometimes summer residents try so hard to get rid of the kidney mite that they forget about other nuances of caring for the plant. For example, with the arrival of spring, it is not recommended to immediately use strong chemical preparations; it is better to choose biological or folk remedies. Otherwise, the weak plant will not withstand the chemicals, which will negatively affect the yield.

During the period of mass reproduction of a kidney mite, it is forbidden to use potent chemicals - currants bloom violently, berries are tied. The chemicals pose a threat to pollinating insects.

How to deal with a pest in spring

What are the measures to combat kidney mites on currants in spring? There are many of them: agrotechnical, mechanical, biological, folk. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Consider how to cure currants.

Mechanically

The mechanical method of control involves examining the bushes and collecting the affected buds by hand. If there are several affected buds on a branch, it is recommended to cut it off completely and burn it away from the garden area. Before collecting kidneys shrubs watered with boiling water... After the water boils, it is poured into a watering can. The recommended water temperature is + 45 ° С.

Such a simple procedure allows you to get rid of the larvae of other insect pests: spider mites, leaf rollers, aphids, moths. Collect the kidneys with gloves.

Attention! The mechanical method does not completely eliminate the insects from the shrub.

Chemicals

Chemicals are used before flowering. It is important to remember that only drugs of the first and second classes of danger, that is, highly toxic ones, are relieved of the pest. Therefore, when using them, safety rules are observed: spraying in a protective suit and gloves, a respirator and goggles. During processing, children and pregnant women, as well as animals, should not be nearby. It is forbidden to eat and drink. Gardeners use:

1. The drug "Envidor"... It destroys all types of mites on indoor and garden plants. Use the product in May or no more than 20 days before harvest. Prepare a solution and treat the leaves with it on both sides. For 5 liters of water, 2-3 ml of the drug is required, it is permissible to carry out no more than 2 treatments. The waiting period for the drug action does not exceed 20 days.
2. Tool "Aliot" has a triple action: contact, intestinal and partially fumigation. To prepare a working solution, 10 liters of water and 10 ml of the drug are required; from 0.5 liters to 1 liter are consumed per bush. The plant is processed at least 3 weeks before harvest. No more than 2 treatments are carried out per season. Aliot guarantees the death of pests within 2 hours.
3. "Phosphamide" penetrates into the plant through the root system, is effective for 15-25 days from the date of treatment. It fights not only against kidney mites, but also against caterpillars, scale insects, aphids, leaf rollers. The waiting time for the drug is about 12 days.

Agrotechnical methods

Kidney mites use weeds for feeding and reproduction, so it is recommended to remove them regularly. With perennial weeds (thistle, dandelion), digging helps to fight, with annuals - collecting grass by hand.

Reference. Experienced summer residents plant siderates, for example, mustard, next to currants and other berry bushes. It protects currants from pests and diseases... In autumn, green manure is used as a natural fertilizer.

Another agrotechnical technique - pruning old branches... It is carried out for preventive purposes. Remove branches that grow in the center of the bush and those that intertwine with each other. They no longer bear fruit, so there is no point in leaving them. Young stems are shortened by 15 cm to stimulate the growth of bushes and increase yields.

It is recommended to maintain a row spacing of at least 1.5 m. Otherwise, a dense planting will lead to the rapid spread of pests. In the aisles, mowed grass or hay is laid out, and the base of the bush is mulched with sawdust or sand. The mulch layer should not be less than 5 cm, otherwise weeds will sprout upward. It is advisable to pull out weeds with roots, and not to chop down with a hoe.

Biologicals

Biological preparations are less toxic and aggressive than chemicals, therefore they are most popular with summer residents. To combat kidney mites, use a remedy Akarin. It takes effect 4–8 hours after treatment. It is applied before flowering. The leaves are not doused, but only slightly moistened. To process currants, 3 ml of the drug is diluted in 1 liter of water, about 1 liter of the product is consumed per bush. "Akarin" is compatible with growth stimulants and other biological preparations. It is important to remember that the ready-made working solution is not suitable for long-term storage. Therefore, before cooking, calculate the required amount of liquid.

Attention! Against the fight against a kidney mite, biological products "Kontos", "Forbid", "Fitoverm", "Bicol" are used.

An effective biological product Boverin. It works against insects that live in the soil and on the surface of the plant. The tool is applied in late April or early May into moist soil. For 10 liters of water, 400 ml of the drug is required.Processing is carried out 1 time in 7-14 days, but no more than 2 times per season. It is not recommended to add complex minerals to the soil simultaneously with "Boverin" fertilizers... The drug is safe for humans and animals, but we must not forget about the precautions.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies are used for protective purposes, so if the tick has already appeared on the currant, it is better to use chemical or biological preparations. Garlic is used for processing: 200 g of peeled garlic is added to a bucket of water. The infusion is left for 2-3 hours, filtered and proceeded to processing. If you don't have garlic on hand, onion peels will do.

For prevention, mustard infusion is also used. 5 liters of water requires 200 g of dry mustard. The solution is stirred, covered with plastic wrap and left for 12 hours. Strain and process currant bushes in the morning or evening.

What to do if currant berries contain green worms

If green worms are found in berries, currants are treated with biological products or chemicals. A proven option is a solution of 10 liters of water, 10 g of sulfur and 75 g of karbofos. The first treatment is carried out before flowering, when the buds grow and swell, the second - after 2-3 weeks. The recommended temperature for the procedure is no more than + 20 ° C. Since sulfur is a toxic substance, during the second treatment its amount is reduced to 5 g.

If they eat leaves

The biological product "Aktofit" helps against worms on the leaves. It is environmentally friendly and takes effect in 2-3 hours. Currants are processed in dry and calm weather, in the morning. The leaves are irrigated with a solution on both sides. "Aktofit" can be combined with any mineral and organic fertilizers. The tool relieves not only of green worms and caterpillars, but also of sawflies, moths, aphids, moths, weevils.

Attention! After processing, it is important to inspect nearby growing crops for pests. Even if there are no signs of insects, it is recommended to spray the currants with a garlic solution or Bordeaux liquid.

Preventive measures

The first preventive measure is the use of healthy planting material. Two-year-old seedlings purchased from trusted sellers are planted on the site. First, the roots are soaked in hot water, and the soil is treated with a solution of Bordeaux liquid or poured with boiling water to destroy all microbes and larvae. Bushes are located at a distance of at least 1.5–2 m from each other and from other plants.

In the spring the currants are cut and thin out, remove old and diseased shoots. Make feeding: the culture reacts well to a solution of mullein, chicken droppings, ash. Fertilizers strengthen the shrub's immunity, which protects against insects. Before agrotechnical measures, garden tools are disinfected, the rules for preparing solutions are observed.

It is important to regularly monitor the condition of the shrubs, inspect the leaves from both sides. If insects are found, immediately process the currants and neighboring crops.

Kidney mite resistant currant varieties

Orlovchanka, Uralskie Zori, Rosita are distinguished from varieties of red currants. Shrubs are distinguished by strong immunity, are rarely affected by diseases and pests, including kidney mites. They are grown in the middle zone of the country and in the northern regions.

Of the varieties of black currant, gardeners prefer Ksyusha, Aleander, Voroninskaya. They are distinguished by high productivity, resistance to external factors. However, it is important to remember that any currant needs preventive and protective measures.

Conclusion

A white worm appeared on the currant? How to get rid of it? To combat the kidney mite, chemical or biological preparations are used: "Aktofit", "Borevin", "Bicol". They quickly kill pests, prevent their reappearance. The first treatment is carried out at the end of spring, the second at the beginning of summer.For prevention, use folk remedies (garlic or mustard solution), follow the rules feeding and weeding.